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Oct 01, 2001

Using our own energy

I recently saw [a] chart showing the cost to produce one million Btus of heat [which shows that burning dry shelled corn to produce heat is seven times cheaper than electricity] and asked myself why are we growing crops at a loss when we could be using this produce to make our nation energy independent? Why are we giving our crops away to the rest of the world, then importing and paying top dollar for oil and oil products, and wondering why we have a huge balance of trade deficit? The taxpayers are tired of subsidizing agriculture, and the American farmer is tired of being thrown a life-preserving subsidy with a hole in it year after year.

The USDA has been promising farmers for 25 years now that exports are going to save the family farm. It hasn't happened and will not happen. We export all our technology too (at no charge to them) at the expense of the American farmer. We are the supplier of last resort because of the high value of the dollar.

For an American farmer or rancher to be justly compensated for his produce when compared to his inputs, costs of living and purchases and taxes, he should receive $6.75 for corn, $14.20 for soybeans, $157.00 for cattle, $104.00 for hogs and $32.10 for milk. It's time for America to get over its love affair with the “cheap food policy” which has been in effect since WWII. It's time to use up our surpluses to make this nation energy independent.R. C. Mundt Polk, NE

Bin repair

I am hunting for parts for my Chicago bin. I have been told the company went out of business or was bought out.Roger Bartz Osage, IA

Only fan and heater parts are available for Chicago bins from Sukup, Box 677, Sheffield, IA 50475, 641/892-4222.

We have a fiberglass Mira Stor grain bin and need a door seal for it. We believe it was manufactured by Miracle Equipment Company. Can you help us find a seal for the door? It is a 10,000-bu. bin.Daryl and Deb Stuenkel via e-mail

Locate companies online

If you don't want to wait for us to track down a “lost” company or part, go online and try several Web sites. Here are a few sites that we use to find companies for our readers:www.buyagparts.com (Go to the parts search.)www.machinerylink.com (Look under the manufacturer listings.)www.lorenzomfg.com (Check out Lorenzo's Ag Links section.)www.ytmag.com (Yesterday's Tractors carries information on parts for antique tractors.)www.ThomasRegional.com (for industry-related inquiries)